Chapter 502: A Visit to the Farmers
The preparations for visiting the farming villages were carried out swiftly and efficiently under the direction of Father and the head butler. The plan was to tour several rural households, moving from one to the next in succession. We were to spend roughly a week traveling through different regions, observing and learning.
At the moment, I was in the salon, explaining these plans to Fabienne.
“You’ll be away from the House of Baron Amber for about a week. Will that be all right?”
Fabienne’s lips curved into a reassuring smile as she gently folded her hands on her lap.
“Of course it will be. I have already spoken to my father and mother about it. They gave their approval without hesitation.”
Relief washed over me, and I let out a small breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.
“That’s good to hear. I’ll do my best to make sure this becomes an enjoyable trip for us.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” she replied, her voice light but with a note of tenderness. Then, her delicate brows softened into a faint crease. “But please, don’t overwork yourself.”
Her expression, the faint downward curve of her brows, told me she was genuinely worried. Perhaps she had already noticed how fired up I was inside. Maybe she saw right through me. And… she wasn’t wrong.
After all, this trip was more than just a simple inspection of farms. For me, it felt like a honeymoon. Just the thought of traveling together with her—only the two of us, for the very first time—was enough to send my heart racing. Of course I couldn’t help but be excited.
With Fabienne’s approval secured, the day of our departure finally arrived. Yet, the scene before the gates of the Marquisate of Heine was… not what I had imagined.
Standing there like radiant suns, smiling brightly, were Rosalia and Mira.
Why. Why had it come to this? This was supposed to be our honeymoon, just the two of us.
“Rosalia, Mira dear, I’m counting on you both to look after Julius.”
Mother’s words rang out cheerfully.
“Leave it to us!” Rosalia declared, puffing up her chest with pride.
“Kyuu!” Mira raised her little hand crisply in salute.
I’ll say it again—why? Why had it come to this? And why was I the one being entrusted as though I were a burden? When I shot a glance toward Fabienne, she only gave me a wry smile. I could feel my own lips twist into the same expression. Yes, we both knew what this looked like.
“Lionel, take good care of Julius. Watch over him closely.”
“As you command.”
Lionel bowed deeply. Father—Father!—you too? What exactly do you take me for? It wasn’t as though I caused trouble that often. Probably. Lionel, don’t look at me like that. It’s not impossible. I’ll prove I can handle this.
“Now then, Julius-sama, shall we get into the carriage?” Fabienne urged me gently, ever the thoughtful one.
“Yes, you’re right. It’s not as though we’re rushing, but neither can we dawdle forever. Come on, Rosalia, Mira, let’s get in.”
And so, with Fabienne’s graceful urging, we all boarded. Rosalia and Mira climbed aboard first, followed by Fabienne and myself.
For this journey, we had kept things simple—just a single passenger carriage and one wagon for luggage. After all, our travels were only to villages within the domain. There was no real danger, nor would we lack for supplies.
As the wheels began to roll, I turned to Fabienne.
“This carriage is a new model, you know. It uses springs to absorb the shock of the road and reduce the jolting.”
“Oh? I look forward to experiencing how well it works.”
“Alex-niisan specifically told me to give him my impressions, so if you notice anything, please don’t hesitate to mention it.”
“Understood.”
“Kyuu!”
Her response was clear. Mira’s, however… well, Mira was always a mystery. One of these days, when we were back at the estate, I might secretly slip her a transformation potion just so I could finally understand what she was trying to say. Still, I wasn’t sure if that would be fair.
Our escort was minimal. Lionel accompanied us, most likely because there were four important figures here—myself, Fabienne, Rosalia, and of course, Mira. Nero, Gyle, and Christopher were also part of the company, ensuring that we had enough protection without being ostentatious.
By midday, we arrived at our first village. It was the one closest to the capital of the domain, a place of vital importance as it supplied much of the food for the city. For a farming village, it was quite sizable.
The land itself, however, did not stretch very far. They had used every bit of flat ground available, and beyond it, the terrain rose into gentle rolling hills.
“Julius-sama, we will be staying here tonight,” Lionel informed me.
“Understood. Then after we greet the villagers, we should begin the inspection at once.”
We were to spend the night at the village elder’s house. Since our group was small, the remaining members of the entourage could find lodging in nearby homes without difficulty.
The elder welcomed us warmly, serving us fragrant herbal tea, before leading us out to begin our tour.
“I’ve passed by in the carriage before, but seeing it up close… all I can see is farmland, stretching endlessly.”
“The scale truly is impressive. Oh? Over there… that section looks different.”
“You’re right.”
The elder beamed, clearly pleased that we had noticed.
“Ah, you have sharp eyes! That patch is being grown with the aid of our all-purpose plant nutrient.”
Indeed, that one corner of the fields was thriving more vibrantly than the rest. The crops stood taller, glossier, brimming with life—despite being the exact same variety as the others.
I couldn’t help but wonder: could they harvest multiple times in a single season with growth like this? If so, wouldn’t that exhaust the nutrients in the soil too quickly?
The elder gestured toward another section.
“These here were given the nutrient from the start. Those over there—we plan to begin treatment soon. Never did I imagine such a stark difference would appear. I only hope it isn’t too late for those ones.”
He laughed awkwardly, scratching his head. I, however, could not give him any promises. Instead, I steered the conversation elsewhere.
“When these crops are harvested, will you plant in the same soil again?”
“That is the plan… is there a problem?”
“I worry about the soil’s nutrient balance. Planting the same crop repeatedly could weaken the yield.”
“Ah… yes, you may be right. That would indeed be troublesome.”
The elder pressed his hand to his brow, clearly concerned. If only there were a slow-release magical fertilizer available. But no—such a thing did not yet exist. Still, there might be alternatives.
“If you have fertilizer available, it may be wise to spread it and allow the soil to rest a little.”
“We do have fertilizer—fermented dung from our livestock. Would that suffice?”
“Yes, that would be ideal, actually.”
At my reassurance, the elder sighed with relief, tension melting from his shoulders. Thankfully, he hadn’t dismissed my advice as the idle chatter of a child.
Thanks to the rise of horse breeding, animal husbandry was flourishing here, meaning fertilizer was abundant. That, at least, worked in our favor.
Fabienne, who had been watching me intently, finally spoke.
“Julius-sama, I had no idea you were so knowledgeable about agriculture.”
I nearly froze.
“Ah, well… actually, I once read about it in a book at the royal castle. I thought it might be worth trying to apply that knowledge within our lands someday.”
Of course, it was a lie. If I had said I found the information in the Heine family archives, she might ask to see it, and then what would I do? By claiming I had read it at the royal castle, I made it almost impossible to verify.
I’m sorry, Fabienne. One day, I hope I can tell you the truth. For now, I’ll carry this small guilt, because the thought of you pulling away from me frightens me far more than telling a white lie. Humans really are selfish creatures.